Well-capping device



H. C. THRIFT.

WELL CAPPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FiLED MAR.28.1919.

Patented D60. 2, 1919 m nnnnmmu I Sme/nto@ M f lltoinm# narra orti@ v HOIVIER C. THRIFT, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR'OF ONE-HALF T0 CHARLES H. LANE,

0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.-

WELL-CAPPING DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec 2, 1l91l9.

Application me@ yis/Lareh es, 1919. serial No. 285,725.

ATo all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, I-IoMER C. THRIFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Well-Capping Def oil strata is reached, the fluid pressure is often such that the oil and gas is forced by internal pressure up through the casing, and escapes, the pressure often being such ythat the well can not be controlled. It is theobject of this invention to provide a preventer which may be attached to the up- Vper end of said tain novel features of construction, oper-` per end of the casing, 'and whereby said.

upper end may be closed .preventingyth'el escape of oil and gas. I l

Another object of the invention Ais'to provide a device of the character described,

which may be cheaply and easily constructed, and easily applied to the well casing, and which will eli'ectually seal theupcasing against the escape of oil,l and gas.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention has particular relation to ceration and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and yla illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

The figure shows a vertical sectional view of the device as applied to the well casing.

L Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the well casing fitted over the upper end of which, there is a tubular sleeve 2, into the lower end of which, there is threaded the up- I Y wardly flared collar 3, which ts loosely over the casing 1.

Threaded into the upper end of the sleeve 2, there is a nipple 4, whose upper end is reduced, and outwardly threaded,l and onto which there s screwed the valve casing 5,

having the central passageway 6, which is opened and closed by means of the gate valve 7. This valve is manually operated through the; valve rod 8, which is threaded 'posed between the collar 3, and the slips 9 are a plurality of rings, l0, preferably formed of lead or other soft metal. These rings are tapered downwardly and flared upwardly', the lower ring fitting within the flared collar 3, and the `upper ring receiving the wedge shaped slips 9, 9. Each ring is fitted into the flared upper end of the memberbelow it.

`As the drilling proceeds, the gate valve 7 -is opened, so as not to interferezwith the operation, but in case, the well starts to blow out, said valve may be manually-closed, and the pressure within the casing will exert a strong upward pull on the sleeve 2, through the nipple`4, carrying the collar 3 upwardly and the slips 9 will engage the casing and securely hold it, causing the inner rings 10 to be compressed between the collar 3 and the slips 9, and being of soft metal, the same will expand, forming a close litting joint with the casing and preventing the escape of Huid down between the upper end of the casing and the sleeve '2, thus ef.

means for opening and closlng the upper end of said member, pipe engaging means interposed between said member and the casing, expansible rings within said tubular member, and surrounding said casing, and arranged underneath said pipe engaging means, and an..annular member fixed within the lower end of said tubular member which operates against said rings to come press them when said tubular member is moved lengthwise relative to the casing.

2. A device of the character described, including a tubular member adapted to be fitted over the upper end of a well casing, means for opening and closing the upper end thereof, an upwardly flared collar threaded into the lower end of said tubular member, upwardly flared expansible rings arranged consecutively within said tubular member, the lower of which is fitted within said collar said rings being interposed between said tubular member and casing, and surrounding the latter, and engaging slips Wedgelike in form, fitted within the uppermost ring.

3. `rIhe combination with a well casing, of a sleevelike member fitted over the upper end thereof, a valve for opening and closthe upper end of said member, an exn said sleevelike member, means carried by the lower end of said member and engaging against said ring, when the member is moved upwardly relative to the'casing, and pipe engaging slips fitted within said ring and actuated by the latter to engage with said casing when the sleevelike member is moved upwardly relative to the easing, said ring being at the same time compressed by said means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specicationin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOMER C. THRIFT.

Witnesses: Y i

WM; A. CATHEY, E. V. HARDWAY.

' pansible ring surrounding said easing with- 

